Ascension Sunday
At this point in the service we often find ourselves thinking about sacrifice, because it is the Lord’s sacrificial death that we proclaim. In the OT, sacrificial animals were meant to symbolize the worshiper. Here are 5 standard steps of sacrifices, which show how sacrifices speak of Jesus, our Host at this table.
1. The worshiper lays his hand on the head of the animal. We draw near to God through a substitute.
1. Jesus is the elect substitute. As we trust Him, His death is propitious for us.
2. The worshiper slays the animal. Sinners cannot stand before a holy God. The way to God is the way of death, the death of a substitute.
2. Jesus dies for the sake of sinners.
3. The priest displays the blood before Yahweh. As in the Passover, blood displayed turns away the wrath of Yahweh.
3. Jesus is also the priest who displays His own blood before the Father.
4. The priest arranges Yahweh’s bread on His altar, and turns it to smoke. Through the substitutionary animal, the worshiper ascends into the presence of God.
4. Jesus ascends to the Father to stand in His presence as our substitute. United to Him, we also ascend to the heavenlies.
5. Normally, there is a meal. Having drawn near to Yahweh through a substitute, we can eat and drink in His presence.
5. We eat and drink with and on Jesus in the Supper.
And so He sits us down at His table, here on Mount Zion, to eat and drink with God, to see Him and not be undone. We are here with Him, on God’s mount Zion because we are in Christ, and He has ascended to the Father. How this can be we have no idea. But we know that we have been raised to life and restored to God’s presence, accepted and favored by Him forever.
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